1 C uando te sientes a comer con un gobernante, considera bien lo que está delante de ti,

When you sit down to eat with a ruler, think about what is in front of you.

2 y pon cuchillo a tu garganta, si eres hombre de mucho apetito.

Put a knife to your neck if you are a man who is given to much eating.

3 N o desees sus manjares, porque es alimento engañoso.

Do not desire his special foods, for they are put there for no good reason.

4 N o te fatigues en adquirir riquezas, deja de pensar en ellas.

Do not work hard to be rich. Stop trying to get things for yourself.

5 C uando pones tus ojos en ella, ya no está. Porque la riqueza ciertamente se hace alas, como águila que vuela hacia los cielos.

When you set your eyes upon it, it is gone. For sure, riches make themselves wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

6 N o comas el pan del egoísta, ni desees sus manjares;

Do not eat the bread of a man who thinks only about himself. Do not have a desire for his fine food.

7 p ues como piensa dentro de sí, así es. El te dice: Come y bebe, pero su corazón no está contigo.

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you.

8 V omitarás el bocado que has comido, y malgastarás tus cumplidos.

You will spit up the piece of food you have eaten, and waste your good words.

9 N o hables a oídos del necio, porque despreciará la sabiduría de tus palabras.

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will hate the wisdom of your words.

10 N o muevas el lindero antiguo, ni entres en la heredad de los huérfanos,

Do not take away the old land-mark, or go into the fields of those without a father.

11 p orque su Redentor es fuerte; El defenderá su causa contra ti.

For the One Who saves them is strong. He will stand by them and give them help against you.

12 A plica tu corazón a la instrucción y tus oídos a las palabras del conocimiento.

Open your heart to teaching, and your ears to words of much learning.

13 N o escatimes la disciplina del niño; aunque lo castigues con vara, no morirá.

Do not keep from punishing the child if he needs it. If you beat him with the stick, he will not die.

14 L o castigarás con vara, y librarás su alma del Seol.

Beat him with the stick, and save his soul from hell.

15 H ijo mío, si tu corazón es sabio, mi corazón también se me alegrará;

My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will be glad also.

16 y se regocijarán mis entrañas cuando tus labios hablen lo que es recto.

My heart will be full of joy when your lips speak what is right.

17 N o envidie tu corazón a los pecadores, antes vive siempre en el temor del Señor;

Do not let your heart be jealous of sinners, but live in the fear of the Lord always.

18 p orque ciertamente hay un futuro, y tu esperanza no será cortada.

For sure there is a future and your hope will not be cut off.

19 E scucha, hijo mío, y sé sabio, y dirige tu corazón por el buen camino.

Listen, my son, and be wise. Lead your heart in the way.

20 N o estés con los bebedores de vino, ni con los comilones de carne,

Do not be with those who drink too much wine or eat too much meat.

21 p orque el borracho y el glotón se empobrecerán, y la somnolencia se vestirá de harapos.

For the man who drinks too much or eats too much will become poor, and much sleep will dress a man in torn clothes.

22 E scucha a tu padre, que te engendró, y no desprecies a tu madre cuando envejezca.

Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not hate your mother when she is old.

23 C ompra la verdad y no la vendas, adquiere sabiduría, instrucción e inteligencia.

Buy truth, and do not sell it. Get wisdom and teaching and understanding.

24 E l padre del justo se regocijará en gran manera, y el que engendra un sabio se alegrará en él.

The father of one who is right with God will have much joy. He who has a wise son will be glad in him.

25 A légrense tu padre y tu madre, y regocíjese la que te dio a luz.

Let your father and mother be glad, and let her who gave birth to you be full of joy.

26 D ame, hijo mío, tu corazón, y que tus ojos se deleiten en mis caminos.

Give me your heart, my son. Let your eyes find joy in my ways.

27 P orque fosa profunda es la ramera, y pozo angosto es la mujer desconocida.

For a woman who sells the use of her body is like a deep hole. A sinful woman is a narrow well.

28 C iertamente como ladrón acecha, y multiplica los infieles entre los hombres.

She lies in wait as a robber, and makes many more men not faithful.

29 ¿ De quién son los ayes ? ¿De quién las tristezas? ¿De quién las contiendas? ¿De quién las quejas? ¿De quién las heridas sin causa? ¿De quién los ojos enrojecidos?

Who has trouble? Who has sorrow? Who is fighting? Who is complaining? Who is hurt without a reason? Who has eyes that have become red?

30 D e los que se demoran mucho con el vino, de los que van en busca de vinos mezclados.

Those who stay a long time over wine. Those who go to taste mixed wine.

31 N o mires al vino cuando rojea, cuando resplandece en la copa; entra suavemente,

Do not look at wine when it is red, when it shines in the cup, when it is smooth in going down.

32 p ero al final como serpiente muerde, y como víbora pica.

In the end it bites like a snake. It stings like the bite of a snake with poison.

33 T us ojos verán cosas extrañas, y tu corazón proferirá perversidades.

Your eyes will see strange things. Your mind will say the wrong things.

34 Y serás como el que se acuesta en medio del mar, o como el que se acuesta en lo alto de un mástil.

And you will be like one who lies down in the center of the sea, or like one who lies above a ship’s sail.

35 Y dirás: me hirieron, pero no me dolió; me golpearon, pero no lo sentí. Cuando despierte, volveré a buscar más.

“They hit me, but I was not hurt. They beat me, but I did not know it. When will I wake up? I will look for another drink.”